MORE: 6 Ways to Stop Eating Mindlessly
No, it’s not too good to be true: The brain can only focus on so many things at once—so when you’re dwelling on ice cream or chips, focusing for a few minutes on a flurry of brightly colored shapes and a ticking clock pushes those cravings to the back of your mind, explain the researchers.
MORE: 7 Ways to Stop Craving Junk Food
That means that Tetris isn’t the only game that can take your cravings down a peg. Anything that’s highly visual, demanding, and, yes, fun (think: Candy Crush and Flappy Bird) can keep your mind off of bad-for-you foods. Plus, researchers note that since cravings are usually short-lived, by the time you finish your game, they could be completely gone.
MORE: Stop Cravings: Healthy Foods That Satisfy Salt and Sugar Cravings